Hearing apparatus with controlled programming socket

ABSTRACT

In the English translation document, please replace the abstract with the following: A Hearing apparatuses is provided. The hearing apparatus includes a programming socket that features at least a first connection and a second connection, with a signal processing system that is connected to the second connection, and with a control system. The control system taps the potential of the first connection. The control system furthermore engages the signal processing system in a first function when the first connection reaches the predetermined potential and in a second function when the potential of the first connection deviates from the predetermined potential. This enables multiple usages for example of the input of a programming interface of a signal processing IC.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of German application No. 10 2007 054603.5 DE filed Nov. 15, 2007, which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hearing apparatus having aprogramming socket that features at least a first connection and asecond connection, having a signal processing system that is connectedto the second connection, and having a control system. The term “hearingapparatus” is understood here to mean any sound-emitting device that canbe worn on or in the ear, in particular a hearing device, a headset, aset of ear phones and the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Hearing devices are wearable hearing apparatuses which are used toassist the hard-of-hearing. In order to accommodate numerous individualrequirements, various types of hearing devices are available such asbehind-the-ear (BTE) hearing devices, hearing device with externalreceiver (RIC: receiver in the canal) and in-the-ear (ITE) hearingdevices, for example also concha hearing devices orcompletely-in-the-canal (ITE, CIC) hearing devices. The hearing deviceslisted as examples are worn on the outer ear or in the auditory canal.Bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aidsare also available on the market. The damaged hearing is thus stimulatedeither mechanically or electrically.

The key components of hearing devices are principally an inputconverter, an amplifier and an output converter. The input converter isnormally a receiving transducer e.g. a microphone and/or anelectromagnetic receiver, e.g. an induction coil. The output converteris most frequently realized as an electroacoustic converter e.g. aminiature loudspeaker, or as an electromechanical converter e.g. a boneconduction hearing aid. The amplifier is usually integrated into asignal processing unit. This basic configuration is illustrated in FIG.1 using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing device. One or aplurality of microphones 2 for recording ambient sound are built into ahearing device housing 1 to be worn behind the ear. A signal processingunit 3 which is also integrated into the hearing device housing 1processes and amplifies the microphone signals. The output signal forthe signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or receiver4, which outputs an acoustic signal. Sound is transmitted through asound tube, which is affixed in the auditory canal by means of anotoplastic, to the device wearer's eardrum. Power for the hearing deviceand in particular for the signal processing unit 3 is supplied by meansof a battery 5 which is also integrated in the hearing device housing 1.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Hearing devices are frequently fitted with a programming socket thatenables the hearing device to be programmed individually. Twoconnections are typically provided for this purpose on the hearingdevice's signal processing chip, which contains the programminginterface. The signal processing chip additionally has to processnumerous other input signals, and therefore a correspondingly largenumber of inputs and/or connections is provided. The more functions thatare implemented in a hearing device, the more connections are to beprovided, which can however eventually lead to space problems.

Programming of a hearing device takes place when it is first fitted andpossibly again in a subsequent adjustment session or in the event of asoftware update. However there are relatively few such events during thetotal period in which the hearing device is in use. However both aprogramming socket and generally also two chip connections are retainedfor programming purposes.

The object of the present invention is to make optimal use of theavailable space in a hearing apparatus and/or to make the hearingapparatus accordingly smaller.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of ahearing apparatus having a programming socket that features at least afirst connection and a second connection, having a signal processingsystem that is connected to the second connection, and having a controlsystem, with the control system tapping the potential of the firstconnection and with the control system engaging the signal processingsystem in a first function when the first connection reaches thepredetermined potential and in a second function when the potential ofthe first connection deviates from the predetermined potential.

Through the inventive multiple usage of a connection of a programmingsocket and/or of the associated chip connection it is possible to savespace for additional functional units.

The programming socket preferably has a third connection that is set toa fixed internal potential of the hearing apparatus, with a couplingelement being removably inserted on the one hand into the thirdconnection and on the other hand into the first connection, by whichmeans the predetermined potential is formed by the fixed internalpotential. By this method it is easily possible to program a connectionof the programming socket with a signal through which the control systemcan deduce that the second connection is being used for a function thatdiffers from its normal function.

The fixed internal potential can be for example ground or a supplyvoltage. Both potentials typically each lie against a connection of theprogramming socket so that one of them can be transferred to the thirdconnection for example with the aid of a simple electrical circuit as acoupling element. The third connection can alternatively also beconducted to ground or to the supply voltage in the programming socketfor example with the aid of an ohmic resistor as a coupling element.Thus a characteristic voltage that uniquely indicates a special functionof the second connection can be configured at the third connection.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment a button is attached tothe second connection. Consequently the programming input can also beused for a user interface. In particular a button system, which containsthe button and the coupling element with which the first connection isset to a specific potential, can be mounted on the programming socket.The button system thus requires no dedicated space on the surface of thehearing apparatus and simultaneously serves to protect the programmingsocket.

The first connection can be used especially for synchronization and thesecond connection for data input when programming the hearing apparatus.The synchronization connection is therefore then used for connectionprogramming and the data input connection for analog signal input forexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in more detail with reference to theappended drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows the basic design of a hearing device according to the priorart;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a programming socket according to the priorart;

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram for wiring a programming socket inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a signal processing chip with an attached programmingcable; and

FIG. 5 shows a signal processing chip in which the programming input isused for a user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments shown in more detail below represent preferredembodiments of the present invention.

In order to describe the invention in more detail FIG. 2 shows a planview of a programming socket, which generally has four contacts 11 to14. The corresponding solder tails are also visible in the plan view. Inthe example chosen the first contact 11 acts as a VCC connection, thesecond contact 12 as a ground connection, the third contact 13 is usedfor data transmission (NData) and the fourth connection 14 forsynchronization (NClock).

Now in order to enable multiple usage of the contacts and/or connectionsof a programming socket one of the connections, in this case the NDataconnection or contact 13 of the programming socket, is programmed with asignal that is characteristic of the corresponding usage (function).Further signal processing is then performed in accordance with thecharacteristic signal. An exemplary circuit diagram for wiring theprogramming socket is accordingly shown in FIG. 3. On account of themultiple usage, an analog/digital converter 15 cyclically scans theNData input of the programming socket. This takes place symbolicallywith the aid of a switch 16. Thus at specified intervals thedigital/analog converter 15 records the voltage applied at the NDatainput. The voltage is converted to a digital value and fed to acontroller 17 that decides which function the inputs NClock and NDataand their downstream signal processing are to have. For example, ifthere is no data signal or possibly an alternating data signal at theNData input, this input is used as a data input for a programminginterface 18 and the switch 16 is correspondingly actuated by thecontroller 17. Therefore corresponding control wires. (shown as dashedlines in FIG. 3) are provided from the controller 17 to the switch 16.

The controller 17 further controls a second switch 19 in the case ofprogramming so that the synchronization input NClock is fed through tothe programming interface 18. This results in the conventional usage ofthe programming inputs NClock and NData for programming of the hearingdevice and/or hearing apparatus.

If on the other hand a predetermined voltage e.g. VCC or GND is appliedat the NData input, after a certain time this is also registered by thedigital/analog converter 15 and reported to the controller 17, whichthen engages the signal processing system located downstream of theNClock input in another function. In particular in the present exampleof FIG. 3 the NClock input is switched over from the programminginterface 18 to a user interface 20 on the signal processing chip withthe aid of the switch 19. This means that the input of the programminginterface 18, which in the case of programming acts as a synchronizationinput, now acts as a signal input for user inputs.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a typical signal processing chip 21,here having four signal inputs and/or outputs TR1 to TR4, four userinterface inputs USI1 to USI4, and two voltage inputs VC1 and VC2. Aprogramming interface PI having the inputs VCC, NData, NClock and GND isadditionally integrated in the signal processing chip 21. A programmingplug 22 is plugged onto the programming socket 10 (not shown) (cf. FIG.2) for programming and thus the inputs of the programming interface PIare used for programming.

According to the present invention the inputs of the signal processingchip, which had originally been provided only for programming, are nowalso used to record user signals. Therefore in accordance with FIG. 5 abutton system 23 is plugged onto the programming socket 10 (not shown)and/or connected to the programming interface. The inputs of the signalprocessing chip 21′ shown in FIG. 5 essentially correspond to the inputsof the signal processing chip 21 shown in FIG. 4.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 5 the button system 23 contains acoupling element 24 by means of which the two inputs VCC and NData areshorted. Thus the NData input (first connection) has a potential that isequal to that at the VCC input (third connection). On account of thispredetermined potential of the NData input the next input NClock (secondconnection) receives a new function, namely that of the signal input forthe button system 23. The button system 23 accordingly has a button 25that is connected here between the connections and/or inputs NClock andGND. When the button 25 is activated the NClock input is set to groundpotential. Thus for example a program switching function on a hearingdevice can be realized with this button 25. Thus the NClock input of theprogramming interface PI acts as a user signal input. Consequently theneed for the user signal input USI4 is obviated, which is thereforeindicated with a dashed line in FIG. 5. Thus the signal processing chip21′ can be fitted with fewer pins and can thus be made smaller.Alternatively the “freed-up pin” can be used for an additional signalinput.

According to a further alternative the coupling element 24 can beprovided for example with an ohmic resistor that may form apotentiometer in conjunction with a further resistor in the signalprocessing chip 21′. As a result a characteristic voltage, e.g. VCC/2,is present at the NData input. This can be recognized as a uniqueindication for a specific function of the signal processing system.Depending on the embodiment of the coupling element 24 the NData inputcan accordingly be set to different potentials. As a function of thevarious potentials a corresponding number of different functions canthen also be provided in signal processing. In this way the programmingsocket can be used for the most diverse range of user interfaces, whichthe hearing apparatus and/or hearing device recognizes independently.

1.-8. (canceled)
 9. A hearing apparatus, comprising: a programmingsocket that includes a first connection and a second connection; asignal processing system connected to the second connection; and acontrol system; wherein the control system taps the potential of thefirst connection, and wherein the control system engages the signalprocessing system in a first function when the first connection reachesa predetermined potential and in a second function when the potential ofthe first connection deviates from the predetermined potential.
 10. Thehearing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the programming socketincludes a third connection that is set to a fixed internal potential ofthe hearing apparatus, and wherein a coupling element being removablyinserted on one side into the third connection and on the other sideinto the first connection, by which the predetermined potential isformed by the fixed internal potential.
 11. The hearing apparatus asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the internal potential is ground or asupply voltage.
 12. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 10,wherein the coupling element is a simple electrical circuit.
 13. Thehearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling elementis a simple electrical circuit.
 14. The hearing apparatus as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the coupling element comprises an ohmic resistor. 15.The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the couplingelement comprises an ohmic resistor.
 16. The hearing apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, wherein a button is attached to the secondconnection.
 17. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein abutton is attached to the second connection.
 18. The hearing apparatusas claimed in claim 17, wherein a button system is mounted on theprogramming socket and includes the button and the coupling element. 19.The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the firstconnection is used for synchronization and the second connection is usedfor data input when programming the hearing apparatus.